Really? SAB and Align in the same class, and SAB only one step above a Blade? Sorry, but although I agree with some of that list, much of it is just speculation from someone that hasn't owned or built most of them...

Sorry but you are missing the point here. This entire post was intended to capture a balanced perspective from experienced pilots whom have had the good fortune of first hand exposure to many manufacturers and models. The intent was to consolidate any shared opinions of which are "the best of the best".

- Not to catagorically rank every brand on the market -

Tier 1 - Has most likely captured the only Brands that really needed to be included in this exercise but I wanted to leave the field open.

BTW, I guess I should say that I intentionally threw two "spoilers" into the field.

Align - Knowing that it would reflect popular opinion based on market share, not the best of the best. And the poll results didn't let me down. hehe

TSA - knowing that the don't have near the exposure as other popular brand even though they might very well be one of the first "first class" manufacturers. The poll results were as to be expected for them as well.

So again, it looks like consensus for the best lies within those helis listed in Tier 1 and 2. And this is what I was after!